Lock key reproducing tool

ABSTRACT

A device for reproducing a lock key using a key blank wherein the key to be reproduced has bits cut into it at varying angles with respect to the plane described by the key including a fixture for clamping both the pattern key and the key blank to move correspondingly in the fixture and cooperating stylus and cutting wheel respectively for following the key pattern and for cutting a replica pattern in the key blank.

United States Patent [191' Oliver [11] 3,87,276 [4 1 Apr. 30, 1974 LOCK KEY REPRODUCING TOOL [76] Inventor: Roy N. Oliver, 148 Ellen Dr., Salem,

[22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 314,196

[52] US. Cl. 90/l3.05, 76/110 [51] Int. Cl. B23c l/l6, B21k 13/00 [58] Field of Search 90/1305, 13.05 A; 76/110 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1969 Adlee et a1. 90/13.05 7/1969 Adlee et a1. 90/13.05

3,499,366 3/1970 Spain 90/1305 Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Z. R. Bilinsky [57] ABSTRACT A device for reproducing a lock key using a key blank wherein the key to be reproduced has bits cut into it at varying angles with respect to the plane described by the key including a fixture for clamping both the pattern key and the key blank to move correspondingly in the fixture and cooperating stylus and cutting wheelrespectively for following the key pattern and for cutting a replica pattern in the key' blank.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures LOCK KEY REPRODUCING TOOL BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION The subject invention pertains to the reproduction of keys for locks similar to those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,499,302 and 3,499,303 which disclose cylinder locks having tumblers that rotate as well as translate .when a key is inserted into the cylinder plug. This invention is also related to U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,366 which discloses a key cutting machine wherein the preparation of keys suitable for use in the aforementioned locks is accomplished by a novel broaching device.

SUMMARY OF TI-IEINVENTION The present invention is more particularly related to a lock key reproducing tool for making duplicates of existing keys in the more conventional manner but having a unique feature whereby the mechanism for reproducing keys is greatly simplified and improved so that a locksmith may more easily duplicate a key of the type having bits cut into the key at varying angles with the plane of the key. However, in this invention the pattern stylus following the key to be duplicated and the cutting wheel being used on the key blank for reproducing the key are coupled together so that when the operator of the key reproducing tool encounters an angular variation as encountered by the stylus he can accurately control the cutting of an exact replica of thatangle in the key blank at the appropriate location merely by a simple manually controlled operation.

I DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the reproducing tool as viewed from the operators side of the device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 v

as viewed from the rear illustrating the simple control features of the tool.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the type of key specifically reproducible in the subject key reproducing tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG; 1 a fixture having a base 10 and a vertical upright 10a is provided with journalled supports 10b and 10c at each end through which a rod 11 is slidably positioned. Fixed to the rod 1 Law two vices 12 and 13 at a predetermined distance from each other, the vice 12 being arranged to hold a key 24 from which a duplicate is to be made from a key blank 25 held in the vice 13. The key 24 is similar to the key of FIG. 3 having several V notches, or bits, cut into it at different levels and angles. Momentarily referring to FIG. 3 it will be observed that the notches or bits x-x, y-y' and z-z' all are cut at right angles across the plane of the key 24 whereas the bit k-k is cut at an acute angle (approximately 20) clockwise from normal to the key plane and the bit m--m' is cut at a similar acute angle counterclockwise from normal to the key plane.

Referring again to FIG. 1 a stylus is rotatably supported in the upright 10a, the end of the stylus 14 being arranged to cooperate with key 24. Spaced upon upright 1011 is a pivotal yoke 15 carrying a shaft 16 upon which is attached a cutting wheel 17, the wheel being driven by a flexible shaft 16a from a driving motor (not shown). The distance between the edge of the wheel 17 and the edge of the stylus 1,4 is arranged to equal the distance between the vices I2 and 13. It is to be noted in the version of the invention herein shown that since the upright 10a is rigidly attached to the base 10 only one level of cuts can be made by the wheel 17; however, obviously if the upright 10a were to be slidably attached to the base 10 and spring urged toward the rod l 1 more than one level of cut could be made by the wheel 17. I

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 where it is shown that the rear end of the stylus 14 is attached to a bell crank 18 and the rear end of a shaft 15a extending from the yoke 15 is attachedto a similar bell crank 19. The ends of these bell cranks l8 and 19 are pivotally connected to the ends of a link 22 supported at its midpoint on a pivot 23 carried by a lever 20 pivotally supported on a fixed stud 21 on the back of the upright 10a. By moving the top end of the lever 20 the stylus 14 and the yoke 15 are simultaneously rotated on their pivots either clockwise or counterclockwise by an agle qb (see FIG. 1), the value of the angle (I) being arranged (by stops coacting with the bell cranks l8 and 19 not shown) to correspond to the acute angles referred to above (FIG. 3) at bits rrz-m and k-k.

In operation the tool is used to reproduce a lock key by placing the key to be produced in vice 12 (as in FIG. 1) and a key blank in vice l3 and having the rod 1 1 and the vices slid to the LEFT with the rod being turned clockwise rotating the key and the blank away from the stylus and the cutting wheel. The first notch of the key 24 is thereafter alignedwith the endof the stylus 14 and the rod 11 is rotated counterclockwise so that the stylus 14 bears upon the key 24, thereafter permitting the stylus to follow the keys notch configurations. Since the key blank 25 has the same positional relationship with thewheel 17 as the key 24 has with the stylus 14, the key blank 25 will be cut as a replica of the key 24 as the rod 11, together with the vices 12 and 13 are moved to the RIGHT (as in FIG. 1). When an acute angle notch is encountered, however, the operator must take note as the stylus 14 enters the key notch and operate the lever 20 to rotate the yoke 15 accordingly so that the wheel 17 is properly positioned on its pivot 15a. The dotted line in FIG. 1 indicates the yoke 15 position for a clockwise acute angle and the dashed line the position for a counterclockwise acute angle, the dash-dot line indicating the normal position of the yoke 15.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock key reproducing too] including a base member and a vertical member attached at an edge thereof, a slidable rod supported at each end by journals from said base parallel with saidv vertical member, clamping vices fixedly held by said rod spaced at predetermined distances thereon, one said vice for holding a key to be reproduced and the other for holding a key blank, a rotatable stylus extending from said vertical member for contacting and sensing the notched configurations of said key clamped in said first vice, a cutting wheel mounted in a yoke extending from said vertical member and pivotally supported by said vertical member for cutting notches in said key blank clamped in the other said vice, said yoke and said stylus being'spaced apart corresponding to the distance between said vices, and manually controlled means connecting said stylus and said yoke whereby configurations of said key sensed by said stylus permit variation of the angle of cutting of the said wheel by pivotting said yoke. 

1. A lock key reproducing tool including a base member and a vertical member attached at an edge thereof, a slidable rod supported at each end by journals from said base parallel with said vertical member, clamping vices fixedly held by said rod spaced at predetermined distances thereon, one said vice for holding a key to be reproduced and the other for holding a key blank, a rotatable stylus extending from said vertical member for contacting and sensing the notched configurations of said key clamped in said first vice, a cutting wheel mounted in a yoke extending from said vertical member and pivotally supported by said vertical member for cutting notches in said key blank clamped in the other said vice, said yoke and said stylus being spaced apart corresponding to the distance between said vices, and manually controlled means connecting said stylus and said yoke whereby configurations of said key sensed by said stylus permit variation of the angle of cutting of the said wheel by pivotting said yoke. 